Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

Epibenthic density and biomass data were analyzed in two ways. First,
mean biomass values were calculated for each major taxonomic group per
cruise; these values were labeled mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) in
units of gm-2. These data are presented in tabular form to show the
relative importance of major fish and invertebrate groups in the
samples. The second major analysis of epifaunal data was cluster
analysis. Cluster analysis using EAP (1982) involved a square root
transformation of all data and appropriate standardizations. Dissimilarities
or distances among the entities (samples or species)
were calculated using the Bray-Curtis Index (Bray and Curtis 1957).
Formation of the two dendrograms and the two-way matrix of sample and
species groups involved flexible sorting with the addition of a step
across distances re-estimation for the species groupings and the two-way
matrix.
Post-larval king crab densities and related physical and biological
environmental variables were examined using correlation and multiple
linear regression analyses. For the purpose of these analyses, king
crabs were divided into four age groups: 1) young-of-the-year or 0+; 2)
ages 1, 1+ and 2; 3) ages 2+ and 3; and 4) ages 3+ and older (3++). The
four physical variables were: 1) depth; 2) bottom water temperature; 3)
bottom water salinity; and 4) percent gravel in sediment samples. The
biological variables used were the mean sample biomass values for nine
taxa: 1) flatfishes; 2) roundfishes (all fish except Pleuronectidae); 3)
polychaete worms; 4) shrimps (including pandalids and crangonids); 5)
the sea star (Asterias amurensis); 6) the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus
droebachiensis); 7) sponge; 8) bryozoans; and 9) the sea onion (Boltenia
ovifera). Biomass data were available for all of these taxa with the
exception of bryozoan biomass from all quantitative trynet and rock
dredge samples. Bryozoan biomass data were not always available due to
the difficulty of separating this taxon from its substrate; however, the
taxon was included in the analysis because of its apparent use as
food by juvenile red king crabs (see Appendix F).
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